The Ryder Cup-style competition began with foursomes play in the morning, and Meronk and Spain’s Pep Angles – who was head coach Jean Van de Velde’s pick for the tournament – defeated Stanford’s Maverick McNealy and Texas’ Beau Hossler, 3&2. Meronk/Angles went up one after carding a birdie on the second hole and the duo led until the Americans pulled even by winning No. 7. From there, Meronk/Angles birdied the next hole, but USA made it all-square after claiming No. 10. However, the team of Meronk/Angles won three straight holes (No. 12-14) to go ahead by three, and the Europeans won the match after both groups parred No. 15 and 16.

The win was key as Meronk/Angles defeated two top players, while it was the only victory for the Europeans in foursomes play. McNealy was the recipient of the Haskins Award, which is given to college golf’s top player, while Hossler – the sixth-ranked golfer by Golfstat – was named PING First Team All-American.

In the afternoon session, Meronk was paired with Belgium’s Thomas Detry, and the European duo defeated Georgia Tech’s Ollie Schniederjans and Georgia’s Lee McCoy in four-ball, 4&3. Meronk/Detry led wire-to-wire as they won the first two holes, while claiming three of the final five to earn the win over the American duo that will be playing in next week’s U.S. Open.

Team USA holds a 6-4 lead after day one of competition.

Meronk is making his debut of the Palmer Cup, while he’s the first golfer from Poland to play in the tournament.